Richmond Hill, Surrey
Richmond Hill in Richmond, Surrey is a hill that rises gently on its northern side from the ancient Thames meadowlands around the site of Richmond Palace up to and slightly beyond the Richmond Gate entrance to Richmond Park, the former royal hunting grounds enclosed by Charles I. The descent southwestwards from this point back down to the upstream meadows is noticeably steeper, although the down gradient is less marked on its southerly and easterly progress through the park itself.
This renowned hill offers the only view in Britain to be protected by a specific Act of Parliament – the Richmond, Ham and Petersham Open Spaces Act passed in 1902 – to protect the land on and below Richmond Hill and thus preserve the fine foreground views to the west and south. Immortalised in paintings by Sir Joshua Reynolds and J.M.W. Turner,[1][2] it was described by Sir Walter Scott as "an unrivalled landscape".
The scenic panorama may be viewed from Terrace Walk, laid out near the top of the hill in the 18th century. This promenade surmounts the Terrace Gardens and both are Grade II* listed in English Heritage's Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.
The town of Richmond grew out of old Sheen, developng from the time of King Henry VII who had established Richmond Palace. The attributes of the hill naturally attracted desirable residential and commercial development – with the result that many substantial properties came and went on the hill over the centuries, some of them with famous or notable persons as owners or occupiers. That situation is still in vogue today.
The original homes on Richmond Hill were built in what is now The Vineyard, including Clarence House,[3] Halford House,[4] Michel's Almshouses[5] and Vineyard House.
The Star and Garter Hotel was built on the hill in the 19th century, closing in 1906. Between 1921 and 1924 the Star and Garter Home was built on the site to provide accommodation and nursing facilities for 180 seriously injured servicemen. It later became the Royal Star and Garter Home. The home closed and was sold in 2013, but the building still stands, on top of the hill as a dominating presence.
Outside links
- Location map: 51°27’10"N, 0°17’58"W
- Turner at The Tate
- Iconic view
- BBC webpage – View from Richmond Hill
- Arcadia Project
- BBC webpage – panoramic view
- BBC webpage – photos of Richmond Hill
- Visit Richmond webpage – Star & Garter on Richmond Hill
- Clarence House
References
- ↑ Warde-Aldam, Digby (15 September 2013). "Revolutionary Richmond?". Apollo (magazine). http://www.apollo-magazine.com/revolutionary-richmond/. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
- ↑ "Turner & Constable & their Contemporaries: Sketching from Nature". Forthcoming events and exhibitions at the Laing. Laing Art Gallery. 2014. http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/laing-art-gallery/whats-on/exhibitions/turner-and-constable-sketching-from-nature.html. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
- ↑ Orr, Stephen. "Clarence House". The Vineyard, Richmond. http://www.thevineyardrichmond.info/clarence-house.html. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- ↑ Orr, Stephen. "Halford House". The Vineyard, Richmond. http://www.thevineyardrichmond.info/halford-house.html. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- ↑ Orr, Stephen. "Michel's Almshouses". The Vineyard, Richmond. http://www.thevineyardrichmond.info/michel's-almshouses.html. Retrieved 7 May 2013.